Systems and methods for inventory management

Abstract

In various embodiments, a method performed by a computer program operating on a computer system includes: displaying, by the computer system on a display screen in communication with the computer system, a plurality of data fields related to shipping a package; and receiving, by the computer system, an identifier for the package. The method further includes in response to the receipt of the identifier: automatically populating, by the computer system, a data field from the plurality of data fields with data for the package from a device in communication with the computer system; and displaying, by the computer system, the populated data field on the display screen. The method also includes generating, by the computer system, a shipping label for the package using a printer in communication with the computer system, the shipping label including one or more of the identifier and the data from the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by a computer program operating on a computer system, the method comprising:
 displaying, by the computer system on a display screen in communication with the computer system, a plurality of data fields related to shipping a package;   receiving, by the computer system, an identifier for the package;   in response to the receipt of the identifier:
 automatically populating, by the computer system, a data field from the plurality of data fields with data for the package from a device in communication with the computer system; and 
 displaying, by the computer system, the populated data field on the display screen; and 
   generating, by the computer system, a shipping label for the package using a printer in communication with the computer system, the shipping label including one or more of the identifier and the data from the device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computer system, an indicator characterizing the identifier;   populating, by the computer system, a data field of the plurality of data fields with the received indicator; and   displaying, by the computer system, the populated data field with the received indicator on the display screen.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of:
 an indicator that the identifier is an original identifier for the package;   an indicator that the identifier is modified from an original identifier for the package;   an indicator that the identifier is associated with a shipment of other packages; and   an indicator having a second identifier associated with the package.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier is received from a barcode scanner in communication with the computer system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a scale, and the data from the scale includes a weight for the package. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computer system, dimensions for the package from the device;   automatically populating, by the computer system, a data field from the plurality of data fields with the dimensions; and   displaying, by the computer system, the populated dimensions data field on the display screen.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computer system, a packaging description for the package;   automatically populating, by the computer system, a data field a data field from the plurality of data fields with the packaging description; and   displaying, by the computer system, the packaging description data field on the display screen.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a camera, and wherein the data for the package is an image of the package from the camera. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing, by the computer system, in a memory in communication with the computer system, the data from the device in a database record associated with the package. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer system is in communication with a user interface comprising the display screen and an input device, the method further comprising:
 receiving, by the computer system, input from a user via the input device of the user interface;   analyzing, by the computer system, the input and identifying an error associated with the input;   automatically displaying a communication to the user, by the computer system via the display screen, the communication including a description of the error and a description of a course of action for the user to take in order to correct the error.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising blocking, by the computer system, further input from the user until the error is corrected. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising automatically correcting, by the computer system, the error based on the analysis of the error. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the communication includes a link to training materials related to the error. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising automatically initiating, by the computer system, contact with a second user in response to identifying the error. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the contact with the second user is initiated via one or more of: a telephone communication, an email, a text message, a visual indicator, and an audible indicator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising creating, by the computer system, a log in a database in response to identifying the error, the log including an identifier associated with the user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 automatically generating, by the computer system, a report including information in the log; and   providing, by the computer system, the report to a second user via an electronic communication.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 comparing, by the computer system, the logged error to previously-logged errors associated with the user; and   automatically generating, by the computer system, an alert in response to the comparison.   
     
     
         19 . A tangible non-transitory computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon, that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 displaying, on a display screen in communication with the processor, a plurality of data fields related to shipping a package;   receiving an identifier for the package;   in response to the receipt of the identifier:
 automatically populating a data field from the plurality of data fields with data for the package from a device in communication with the processor; and 
 displaying the populated data field on the display screen; and 
   generating a shipping label for the package using a printer in communication with the processor, the shipping label including one or more of the identifier and the data from the device.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a printer,   a device for providing data for a package;   a display screen; and   a computer system in communication with the printer, the device, and the display screen, the computer system comprising:
 a processor, and 
 a tangible, non-transitory memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of data fields related to shipping a package on the display screen; 
 receiving an identifier for the package; 
 in response to the receipt of the identifier:
 automatically populating a data field from the plurality of data fields with data for the package from the device; and 
 displaying the populated data field on the display screen; and 
 
 automatically generating a shipping label for the package using the printer, the shipping label including one or more of the identifier and the data from the measuring device.